Deep in the heart of Batangas province in the Philippines, a natural wonder kept hidden from the public by walls of caldera and water has bewildered scientists and adventurers for centuries — Taal Volcano. Looks like just another volcano, right? It’s an island (Volcano Island) in a lake (Taal Lake) on an island (Luzon). And it gets better — there’s yet another lake inside the volcano, called Crater Lake, which used to be home to its own little island, named Vulcan Point.
That’s right: an island in a lake on an island in a lake on an island — one of the world’s very few double islands.
Taal is designated a "complex volcano" which means that it has many eruption points and a circuitous geologic past. The entire surrounding lake is basically the caldera of an ancient, far larger volcano that erupted thousands of years ago. What we see today is a leftover.
Since the 16th century, Taal has erupted more than 30 times, including one of the most powerful eruptions in 1911, which killed more than 1,300 people. Strikingly beautiful it may be, but it is one of the country's most dangerous volcanoes by virtue of it being so near populated areas and the unpredictability of its activity.
At the bottom of Crater Lake was Vulcan Point — a tiny rocky island which perplexed scientists. But after the eruption in January 2020, water levels and landmass were dramatically altered. There is still some debate as to its visibility or whether it has collapsed back down into the lake.
EVIDENCE:
NASA satellite photos and drone footage after the 2020 eruption reveal dramatic changes to the terrain. You can see before-and-after photographs of the crater from NASA’s Earth Observatory here:
Earth observatory. Nasa. gov (Search: Taal Volcano 2020)
Why It Matters:
The mystery of Taal Volcano isn’t just a curiosity of nature: It offers a potent lesson in the ever-changing face of the planet. It also sheds light through the region about the volcanic history of the Philippines, biodiversity, and the hardiness of its communities. Fishermen continue to ply their trade on Taal Lake each day, despite warnings that there could be further activity.
Did you know?
Taal Volcano is one of just 47 Decade Volcanoes on earth — those used by scientists for study because of their large, destructive past and proximity to human populations.
Comment below:
Would you go and see this mysterious volcano? Or is it too risky, do you think?
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